Arafat Honored with Jewish Funding

Harvard Hillel and the Jewish Philanthropies pay for a student pilgrimage to the arch-terrorist’s burial shrine.

Having worked on campus in Boston for the past decade, I learned one key rule for instilling Jewish pride and connection for college students: Be open to a diversity of opinions, and always try to understand the other side.

To this end, when Aish takes groups of Hasbara Fellowships students to Israel, we allow representatives of the Palestinian viewpoint to state their case fairly and freely.

But there are limits.

A recent group of Harvard students went on the Harvard College Israel Trek 2014 to "learn about Israeli history, culture, and politics."

The trip included a solemn visit to the grave of Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.

Arafat personally ordered the murder of hundreds of Israelis, including many Americans.

Arafat, for those may have forgotten, was an arch-terrorist who over decades personally ordered the murder of hundreds of Israelis, including many Americans.

So who sponsored this Harvard Trek to Arafat's grave?

According to the Trek website, "Israel Trek is made possible by the generous contributions of a number of family foundations and Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies. The Trek is supported by Harvard Hillel."

How appalling to accord "honor" to Arafat through funding by Boston’s Jewish community!

Stunning Setback

As someone who lived in Israel from 2000-2005 and witnessed firsthand the destruction of lives, buses, cafes and property, I cannot stand for this revisionist history being indoctrinated into Harvard students, the future leaders of our society.

I personally heard the explosion when an Arafat-dispatched suicide bomber murdered 11 people in a café in the heart of Jerusalem, wounding many others. I was on a bus when Arafat’s henchmen hurled a boulder through the windshield in an attempt to kill us all. I have family and friends who witnessed unspeakable horrors. Just about everyone living in Israel knows someone deeply and directly affected by Arafat’s murderous intent.

If the point was to prove “nuance,” then trips to the graves of Arafat’s victims would be more appropriate, so they don’t become relegated to simply statistics and anonymity. Even more so, visiting those "merely maimed" by Arafat's thugs would have been a far better use of educational time and resources.

Arafat should go down on history’s list of infamy, not famed by a group of college students from any university, let alone the prestigious Harvard.

As someone who works tirelessly to educate students on the relevant issues of the situation in Israel, with all the complexities and viewpoints taken into account and shared openly, this is a stunning setback.

By contrast, our Hasbara New England initiative has been incredibly effective in teaching students to stand proud for Israel on campus. In fact, most pro-Israel leadership on campus have completed our training program. They are enthused, confident, and capable of leading the call to support Israel – effectively using social media, building strategic relationships with student groups, and advocating through peer-to-peer programming that engages students.

Seeing our community donors supporting a project that puts Arafat on a pedestal is an affront to Arafat’s victims. It is an affront to the Jewish people. How my beloved Jewish community in Boston could end up helping to pay for this is beyond belief.

Click here to read a response from the organizers of the trip, and let us know what you think in the comment section below.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

Rabbi Chananel Weiner is the CEO of Aish Campus Boston. Chananel graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in English and History. Before starting law school, Chananel spent the summer in Israel and changed his life direction – instead spending the next six years studying at Aish Jerusalem. Chananel lives in Boston with his wife Michelle (originally from London) and two children. Chananel is known for his outgoing personality, encouraging people to ask and get their questions answered. He recently participated in a discussion at Harvard’s ILR School dedicated to finding a solution to the Middle East conflict. Check out Rabbi Chananel (undercover) at http://www.youtube.com/user/UnofficialUTubeRabbi

Seems to me no other people would see the others side so clearly and honor him in this manner. Even if some see him as a worthy opponent his life's work was attempting to destroy the Jewish State, and he has much blood on his hands. It does seem bizarre that Jews would show such respect,particularly since the conflict is still very much alive and undecided.

(63)
Shmuel,
March 27, 2014 11:57 AM

Shows whats wrong with American Jewry

Maybe they will take a pilgrimage to Hitlers grave if they knew where it was. A disgrace - these people have no love for our people so why are funds wasted on them and not spent on Jews who care about the nation.

(62)
Michael,
March 27, 2014 9:30 AM

Disturbing

The picture does show some smiling. This person in the tomb where they stand left more then dead Jews and Americans.My dear Rabbi told me years ago about the victim' of terror that lived. These victims of the terrorists live in terrible pain, wheather it be mental or physical. Children who lost their sight, hands, feet and live in terror every hour.The students' in the picture are probadly clueless in the ways of this mad man. May G-d bless the living victim's of terrorists and the great state of Israel. Again, AISH reports news from the middle-east better then any other. May G-d always bless the good people at AISH, they are a gift from G-d.

(61)
BH in Iowa,
March 26, 2014 1:53 AM

Am I missing something here?

If there is anyone who doesn't get the "palestinian" narrative shoved down their throat every single day, they are truly blessed.

(60)
Anonymous,
March 26, 2014 12:40 AM

Im sure Arafat is laughing in his grave...Next they'll be honoring Hitler with Jewish funding

(59)
TMay,
March 25, 2014 8:36 PM

agree with Rabbi Weiner

I hesitated to read the article. I am glad that I am in agreement with the author.

(58)
Steve,
March 25, 2014 5:16 PM

The picture fed those who know that propaganda, repeated often enough becomes accepted truth.

Wm Buckley said that he would rather be governed by the 1st 200 names in the Boston telephone book then by the Harvard faculty. And here are the students - clueless about the power of a photograph in the hands of a propagandist to create new "truths" for the world. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. These students obviously have acquired much information about the world - perfect SAT scores and so forth, and are certainly well intentioned. Then they pose for a group picture which is bound to be circulated around the net. They have a long way to go to turn their accumulated knowledge into wisdom and sound judgement.

March for the Living brings thousands of Jewish teens on a trip through Europe and Israel and their message is- There should be only love in the world, no hate. Is it right to say that Jews should not hate those who killed them/ want them dead?

Anonymous,
March 25, 2014 11:24 PM

Sure, this world has no hate in it.

Well, perhaps where the March for the Living teens live -- fantasy land -- Jews love those that hate them and want them dead. However, I humbly opine that most Jewish people with brains and eyes still in their head, living in the world we do live in, realize that you have to protect yourself and your family.

(55)
Pam,
March 25, 2014 12:20 PM

The organizers of the trip explain their motivation and action

very well, and I agree with them and support their attempts to understand and engage. This is the way the conflict will end, letting history be remembered, but creating new friendship and. I believe the kids were right, and the story was given a "spin" in the wrong direction.

Anonymous,
March 25, 2014 10:54 PM

"Creating new friendship?"

Standing by the grave of a mass murderer of the Jewish people? Are you crazy?

Anonymous,
March 25, 2014 11:33 PM

for every motivation and action there is an opposite motivation and reactions

Do Palestinian college students, especially those behind or supporting the boycott and divesture movement, do they try to understand and engage? What is the "right spin"? Is it that these very smart students want to befriend murderers and 'people' that would slash their throats if given a chance? Oh, too harsh? Let's just say that when the Palestinian college students try to create friendships by going to the graves of the Jewish people killed by Arafat and his ilk, then your comment might make sense.

(54)
Regina,
March 25, 2014 2:41 AM

"The 3 L's"

"Lefty, Loony, Liberal" - so open-minded that their brains have fallen out.

(53)
Anonymous,
March 25, 2014 2:34 AM

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Wake up. Wake up the dawn! Shake off your depressions people! This is not the negative your trying to make it to be. It is a BIG positive. A huge statement. This picture should make you jump for joy, dance, sing, and praising G-d! We are being empowered by G-d to know something here folks. Change is happening; that future we have been longing for; praying for- it is nearing. We can go anywhere in the world, b''H, and be safe; He is with us. Anywhere. Invited by enemies to visit the land and the grave of a revered leader-we have inherited the gate of our enemy. This occurance is a BIG deal. LOOK. Look at that picture again. Look at the smiling faces. The organizers should be given an award. Try to remember, try to think past the negativity, think past the long wait we have had, think past the anger, past it all: G-d controls it all! G-d is brilliant! b''H. Halleluyah!

Regina,
March 25, 2014 10:53 PM

Free will

Are you for real? Since when do we smile at the grave of Jewish murderers? Yes, we go safely under Hashem's watchful protection but HE HAS GIVEN US BRAINS TO DECIDE WHERE WE SHOULD GO. The "statement" is that we have choices - don't try to tell us this is a good thing - if you really believe that, you're suffering from delusions.

Scott of the Mountain,
March 26, 2014 1:20 AM

Yessir, like all the others

A fine picture of a dead enemy. He can join Greece, Rome, Hitler, et al. We are still very much alive.

Sheila,
March 26, 2014 6:33 AM

Worth a thousand words?

Are you OK? Do you have a fever? Simmer down, please. There is no Halleluyah here. Any "smiling faces" in that photo, are non-Jews, probably laughing at us. We have gone one dangerous step too far in our efforts to become likeable to gentiles. For a supposedly very intelligent people, we are making fools of ourselves, the butt of jokes in the Middle East.G-d expects us to be smart, not dumb, and certainly not craven creatures at the feet of our enemies.

(52)
Tzvi,
March 25, 2014 12:28 AM

Irrelevant

The "Palestinian narrative" is about as relevant to the truth in the Middle East as The Lord of The Rings is relevant to the science of geology. These Harvard educated fools are truly the "useful idiots" that feed the beast of tyrants.

(51)
rachel,
March 24, 2014 10:59 PM

no Jewish students were included

Read the rebuttal. Israel trek students were all nonJews. I find that disturbing

(50)
Scott Edelman,
March 24, 2014 8:58 PM

Oy!

Why just Arafat? Let's visit the graves of every anti semite! What an absurd thing to do, and a waste of money that could have been used to help the families of the victims suffering from Arafat's cruelty.

(49)
Kenneth H. Ryesky,
March 24, 2014 8:38 PM

Where are the PA student outreach delegations?

Where are the PA-funded student outreach delegations to Auschwitz, Dachau, Yad Vashem, Kiryat Shemona, Maalot, Sderot, etc., to meet with the survivors and the families of the victims?

(48)
Patty Ann Smith,
March 24, 2014 7:01 PM

Someting To Remember

I believe this was an innocent picture , it was not meant to honor Arafat,, it just a group of young students taking a picture to have as a reminder of this exceptional trip.

yo,
March 24, 2014 9:48 PM

Not about the pic

it's not the picture that the discussion is about. it's why they went there at all.

Regina,
March 25, 2014 2:39 AM

Are you kidding?

Dear Patty,With all due respect, please don't be so naive. An exceptional trip to the grave a of a murderer of the Jewish people? These are supposed to be the "best and brightest" - HARVARD STUDENTS and JEWISH at that.

Anonymous,
March 25, 2014 3:46 AM

innocence maybe wise?

It is right to look for the best of motive. It is also wise to not give legitimacy to any movement that core is hate and murder.

(47)
Uri Yitzchak,
March 24, 2014 6:51 PM

to Eugene Mazzilli

..with all due respect,.your comments don't reflect at all what our Torah teaches. Our Bible (Jewish Scriptures) does not say anywhere that G-d told us to forgive our enemies-on the contrary .In regards to the verse you quote ,it is not to be understood literally, and we Jews haven't gone or go around knocking peoples eyes or teeth. History speaks for itself and shows who really was the victim through so many centuries. Your views match the Christian religion not ours. Yes, we are taught to forgive our fellow -not our enemies though ;much less criminals and murderers who had or have their hands full of Jewish blood. So please, be well informed before you write such comments which do not have any foundation in our Tradition.

Eugene Mazzilli,
March 28, 2014 2:58 PM

Eugene to Uri

Dear Uri,Torah tradition is as Micah, Jeremiah, and Moses have said, All the Laws rest on these two Commandments, "To love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength; and the second is alike "To love your neighbor as yourself". There is no distinction between Muslim, Hindu, Christian or Jew, It applies to all people. Moses said to the Jews in the desert, "You are a stiff necked people, constantly complaining and wanting to return to Egypt because you think life there was better. They forgot about their enslavement and how God performed the miracles and our Passover. We always find it so hard to understand the "Mind" of God, even after we see all that God has done for us. Forgiveness is for all, not just for us Jews. Jeremiah said the same when he could not bring the Children of Israel to follow the Lord, He said, "this generation is a stiff necked people, a generation that will be worse than previous generations and their forefathers". He must have known that we Jews are too stubborn for our own good. We decide what and how we interpret the Torah and apply it as we see fit. Imagine, we tell God how He thinks and instructed us to behave. Micah said, "to do justly, to have MERCY, and to walk humbly with you God". I am amazed at the many written comments, especially the hatred, the stubbornness, the hardness of so many hearts. We are supposed to show the world that God truly blessed us and we should behave accordingly and inspire all. God is Love, not hate. I have been a part of Aish for many years and I sincerely miss writing to Rabbi Noah Weinberg (of Blessed Memory). He always advocated peace and good will with wisdom to all. He respected all people and never gave vengeful remarks. Maybe we should be more like him. Better yet, try to understand the "Mind" of God, not to be vengeful, haughty, stiff necked, but to be kind, merciful, and walk humbly with our God. Shalom,Gene Mazzilli,

Uri Yitzchak,
March 30, 2014 1:24 PM

You are just missing the whole point and completely out of context- we are not talking here about forgiving our neighbor-we are talking about forgiving criminals and murderers of the Jewish People.(they are NOT our neighbors).The Torah itself says we should hate our enemies. Should we forgive the Nazis for what they did?. You should go back to the Torah and check again What you write sounds more like something taken from a Christian missionary pamphlet

david,
April 9, 2014 1:26 PM

Please file your Christian views on a Christian Web site

If one were to file reviews of poetry on a scientific Web site dedicated to providing critical career-related information from the leading labs to astrophysicists, it would be an unwelcomed and bizarre distraction.

Here we have a Christian soapboxing at the online study halls of a Jewish learning institution established exclusively for the purpose of disseminating Jewish knowledge to Jews, and he's absolutely shocked that his attempts to preach his non-Jewish faith to the Jewish learners who specifically sought this Jewish place out is unwelcome. Bizarre, but unfortunately familiar.

Unfortunately, it just shows how little has changed for some Christian self-styled "lovers" of the Jewish people.

(46)
Goldie,
March 24, 2014 5:12 PM

Liberal fools

Funny how the Muslims and Palestinians never have a need to visit the grave sites of Jews. Only Jews and Israeli are held responsible for trying to survive. This Harvard group is like WWII's Neville Chamberlain before Hitler invaded Poland. Too many self-hating Jews around. And to think, the Harvard group had an Arab in it for legitimacy. It's amazing Jews have survived for centuries.

Anonymous,
March 26, 2014 6:37 AM

Well said, Goldie

Well said. With stupidity like that displayed by Hillel, it really is amazing that we have survived at all. I cannot get this ridiculous, craven venture out of my mind. What will we do next? Visit Hamas? Celebrate the anniversary of Islamic Jihad? Move out of Israel?

(45)
Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 3:18 PM

"Yes, we visited Arafat’s grave"

"Israelis who love and care about the identity and future of Israel" don't misappropriate Jews' money to fund meetings between student groups and Holocaust denying terrorists who reject the Jews' national right to exist. With love like that, who needs anti-Semitism?

LLOYD A OESTREICHER,
March 24, 2014 4:10 PM

ARAFAT

VISITING ARAFATS GRAVE IS RIDICULOUS. I VISITED FRANCOS GRAVE IS SPAIN AND WAS DISGUSTED. FRANCO CAUSED THE DEATHS OF MANY INCLUDING FEDERICO GARCIS LORCA. I WOULDN'T VISIT HITLERS GRAVE EITHER. HARVARD HILLEL ARE IDIOTS. THEY SHOULD LOSE THEIR FUNDING.

(44)
eugene mazzilli,
March 24, 2014 2:41 PM

Forgive

As God told us numerous times, Forgive your enemies, Feed the poor, Shelter the homeless, and your Heavenly Father, seeing all this will forgive you your sins, and give you all manner of blessings too numerous to count. But we are (according to Moses) a stiff necked people, and our only thought is "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth". As long as we (and others) still believe in this, there will never be peace anywhere in the world. This is where we go wrong and fail to understand the Mind of God. Maybe Harvard Jews are trying to comprehend this. So let's try to understand the basis of what Harvard Jews see as a learned endeavor. Let's also try to honor what God demands of us as a people. Think about it.

Goldie,
March 24, 2014 5:14 PM

You are not a Jew. That's Christianity you are quoting

Furthermore, an eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth means NO MORE THAN THAT IS REQUIRED. If we don't fight, then we perish. You are a Christian masquerading as a Jew on this site.

Anonymous,
March 28, 2014 4:29 PM

You are not a Jew. That's Christianity you are quoting.

Dear Goldie,I just wrote to Uri (on this site), explaining my interpretation (as well as the Prophets, Moses, and well respected Rabbi's) of Torah, its Law and the two most important Commandments of which all the Law is based. Please allow me to mention them, To love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your soul and all of your strength. The second is alike, To love your neighbor as yourself. Love of your neighbor does not mean Jews only! It means all people. " An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth" No more than that is required, is wrong. We need to break that string of hatred. (reminds me of parents beating children then husbands beating their wives. When does it all end). As a Jew, you should be the first to try to break it. Goldie, Nothing is required of you but to honor the Commandments and the Law. We have been instructed to enlighten the world, not to fight it. We must set an example as God would have us do. Try not to worry about perishing, God has seen to it that it will never happen, (note history and the struggle of the Jewish people). Haven't we always come through. Yes, we suffer, just as many peoples of the world have suffered. But we have one thing that is on our side, GOD. Lastly, May I please say to you that I do not appreciate your accusations and remarks about my religion. You do not know anything about me and you have no right to say such things to anyone using this site, whether it's their race, religion, or beliefs. Anyone can use this site to express his or her beliefs as long as their comments are not inflammatory. Yours are very hurtful towards contributors of this site. Remember, others have opinions too.

(43)
Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 2:39 PM

visting Arafat's tomb

Maybe they just wanted to make sure he WAS dead! I too think it's disgusting! We paid honor to Oscar Schindler's grave in Jerusalem as a hero who saved Jewish lives and said prayers & left pebbles at memorials to those who died in the Holocaust while we visited Europe. They (the college students) may be smart, but they have no brains!

(42)
AliceL,
March 24, 2014 1:15 PM

A murderous swine

Arafat was the biggest killer of Jews since Hitler. That these JINOS honored him is nothing short of disgusting. Shame on them and on the people who funded this "pilgrimage" to a murderer's grave.

(41)
susannah garbutt,
March 24, 2014 11:21 AM

It is so good to hear about the New England Hasbara initiative being so effective. It seems not enough people think for themselves, even educated people, regarding Israel. To my knowledge, Israel is the only religiously tolerant and democratic state in the region, and students don't seem to look at the state of the ordinary citizens in most Arab countries there, and what happens if you don't want to be Muslim, the horrors of sharia law, honour killings, FGM, forced marriage, or the radical Islamists creating so much death and destruction there and in Africa. God help them, I would prefer Israel any day even if I was an Arab Muslim. Truth has become a casualty in the West, so it's so good to hear of people promoting the alternate view of Israel the good guy as against all the anti-Israel propaganda that has been going on for the last 20 or more years. Jews need their own homeland as it was given to them by God, it's not even a large country for goodness' sake. It's all so anti-Semitic, that is the only conclusion I can come to about the situation - I haven't heard a good reason ever why Jews should not have their own state. Peace and strength to you all.Susannah

(40)
Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 7:23 AM

History always repeats it self with the next generation.

The History is paved with good intentions. When a man sets his face to destroy a people he must be taken at his word. That makes him a murderer. He can never become the misunderstood victim. He never changed from his view to drive Israel ( that means the Israeli people ) in to the sea or drink salt water. The man saw the Jewish people as a problem not a people to live in peace with. History must be taught as it was not as one would like it to be. If Palistinian leadership were different then terror would stop and a humble sincere hand of friendship would be extended. The truth is if the root is deadly the whole tree will bear deadly fruit. One question would the PLO want to play soccer with Israel or kill? If we are honest we all know the answer. That is the sad but real truth. Before His death Arafat was given all he requested but that was not enough. Because Israel could not give him what he wanted the total destruction of the State of Israel.

(39)
Dr Basil Sacks,
March 24, 2014 7:15 AM

What about Archbishop Tutu being a Patron of Cape Tow's Holocaust center?

one of the world's most poisonous and sinister anti-Israel and anti-Jewish creatures is Cape Town's own devil himself ( not devil incarnate, but the devil himself), who, if you can believe, is a Patron of Cape Town's Holocaust centre.Some of the trustees( many leftists) are tutu apologists.Is this on a par with the Arafat story, or worse?

Sheila,
April 4, 2014 6:45 AM

Different from Arafat, and possibly worse

Astounding. Didn't know that Tutu is a patron of CT's Holocaust Centre. How and why did the Cape Town Jewish community allow this to happen? The man is thoroughly evil, attends the Durban "Conference", and has been an anti-Semite all his life.

I think that he is worse than Arafat who stated his intentions over and over again, so that generally we knew what he was trying to do to us. Tutu is different: That smile, that giggle, that pretended tolerance and friendliness - all of them mask intentions that are thoroughly evil. I have known him and of him since my 11th birthday in South Africa, and have not EVER had one good thought about this man, one of the world's greatest hypocrites, taking care only of Number One, Desmond Tutu. WHY is he permitted to continue pretending that he is a patron of anything Jewish? Is the Cape Town community self-destructive?

(38)
Jon Kurovsky,
March 24, 2014 6:11 AM

What do you say to this??

I don't know what to say, I can't tell you how often I speak with Jews who are so happy to tell me they took the time to speak with or honor, someone or group that hates us. By hate, I means takes time and effort to insure our children die, are harassed, chased off, and time and time again, I see this silly, child like look. Like "I can't believe you wouldn't sit down and talk", the fact is they only talk to you because you've shown yourself so naive enough to be convinced you shouldn't be alive and are willing enough to help make that a reality in Israel, by asking our brothers and sisters to "Just give away the land HaShem put us on". While we do this, Hamas announces that the Koran states, they must kill Jews that pollute their land, this week. I guess they didn't attend Harvard.

(37)
moshe kaplan,m.d.,
March 24, 2014 3:59 AM

Great spirits

Great spirits often encounter violent opposition from mediocre minds, Albert EinsteinThe liberals have once again proven they are of "mediocre minds"

Beverly Kurtin,
March 24, 2014 3:37 PM

So you would honor Arafat

Doc, you really need to alter your mind-set.

You would honor the architect of Hitler too?

Alan S.,
March 24, 2014 11:02 PM

Really??

The students that visited Arafat's grave are "great spirits"? Might I assume you probably think Arafat is himself a great spirit? Please understand the absurdity of your quote in the context of this article.

(36)
Bill Josephs,
March 24, 2014 1:45 AM

We have met the enemy and it is us.

This is about liberal Jews going too far. Who believes that any significant percentage of these people celebrated Shabbos, have or will marry Jews? Like reporter Daniel Pearl, these people do not know who they are.

(35)
Sheila,
March 24, 2014 12:02 AM

Honouring?

I have read the response from Zaki Djemal, Yoav Schaefer, Sharon Stovezky & Nusseir Yassin. And I am sickened. Beyond sickened. There are no words to describe what I feel. My hands are shaking with fury. HOW DARE YOU TREAT US LIKE THAT? A couple of correspondents above wrote something about us having a sickness. They are right. We want to be "liked" by everyone, even those whom we ought to know will always hate and try to get rid of us. After the 6,000,000 (really more than that, but that's the politically correct figure) had been murdered, what one heard from the few remnants of European Jewry was often, "We thought they were our friends", "...they were our neighbours; we had their children playing in our gardens", "...we were such good citizens and everyone respected us!" HAVE WE LEARNT NOTHING? WILL WE EVER LEARN ANYTHING? If my childhood in Nazi-oriented South Africa taught me anything it was NEVER to think a non-Jew is your friend. I am now 71, and have not had reason to change my mind. If a reason to change it had come along, I would've changed it. Non-Jews are not, never have been, will not ever be, our friends. Nuance? Out of context? Contextual education? POPPYCOCK. I have no difficulty imagining exactly what "Harvard's best and brightest" will have said about Jews before, during and after that visit to Israel, the "Palestinians" and Arafat's grave, when they stopped laughing at us. Even as I typed those words of his name, I felt like throwing up. You brainy young people have no idea, do you? Not a clue. You think ISRAEL persecutes Arabs? You are out of your little minds, and have no idea as to what true persecution is. Hillel, SHAME on you.

(34)
Irwin Graulich,
March 23, 2014 11:48 PM

Harvard Honors Arafat

There you go--Harvard--Thank God I went to Brooklyn College and did not get brainwashed at those despicable Ivy League schools. The students who go there have their minds so opened, that their brains fall out!!! Harvard--what a joke!!!! And Dartmouth is even worse.

(33)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 11:14 PM

Sad

This is NOT being opened minded, this is brain polution. Would these same students visit the graves of SS men who worked in the camps? Folks, no difference. That was an affront to every Jew that has given his or her life for the defence of Israel and the United States.

(32)
Fred Willis,
March 23, 2014 11:06 PM

Arafat is a killer, a slime bucket who used PA monies for his own use. I hope one day his tome will be erased from the earth!

(31)
Joseph Feld,
March 23, 2014 10:50 PM

One more site to tick

If the Harvard students visited PA headquarters as part of their trek and Arafat's grave happened to be in that compound, that's not quite a pilgrimage or an attempt to honour a mass murderer. Most media referred to the PA terrorists as 'militants' and Arafat tried to present himself as a 'freedom fighter' or a 'martyr for peace,' negotiating with successive Israeli governments. The 'trek' in its entirety sounds well structured and perhaps this one section of the trek needs to be adjusted.

rachel,
March 24, 2014 10:51 PM

finally, a sane comment

This should be a cautionary tale to those who insist on posting every moment of every experience online.Having read israel trek response, this sounds like an excellent program. Unfortunately, readers disgust for arafat, which I share, has blinded them to the idea of studying the region.

(30)
howard mallinger,
March 23, 2014 10:27 PM

History

It is simple,what we are seeing,is 1931 Germany all over again.Very sad indeed,are "people" always have to learn the hard way AGAIN! VERY VERY SAD,AND A REAL SHONDA.

(29)
Sandy Wild,
March 23, 2014 10:25 PM

Palestinians must be taught NOT to hate before progress can be made.

If this trip to visit the PA did not also include visiting Israel's counterparts (Knesset members, grave of deceased statesmen, etc) it was a wasted trip. You MUST know the TRUTH about both sides to make an educated decision. Israelis do what they must to keep safe. Palestinians are only taught to HATE and MURDER. Until the Palestinians are taught to get along with Israelis, there will NEVER be peace in the Middle East.I am appalled that this group of Jewish students made such a trip and that Jewish groups paid. Our tax dollars through UNRWA pay for the negative education Palestinian children are getting about Israel. How is it that 600,000 "Jewish Refugees" from all Arab countries were absorbed into the Israel population, but NOT ONE Arab country will allow citizenship to any "Palestinian refugee"? Does anyone ever think about this? Why can't the Arab countries be forced to take in these so called refugees like Israel was forced to take in the Jewish refugees from Arab countries when the UN cut off funding?

(28)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 10:13 PM

remembering the Ma Alot (Israel) massacre ! !

Arafat and his murdering thugs broke into a small school, and systematicaly murdered many very small child hostages. How could anyone honor such a beast !

(27)
Zero Equals Infinity,
March 23, 2014 9:44 PM

Visiting Arafat's grave does not express approval of his actions

One is not called to make peace with one's friends, but with one's enemies. Part of that is becoming familiar with the way they view those whom we hold in contempt from our narrative. This may not, and probably should not change how we view the person in question, but there is a need to understand their view if the path to a peaceful future is to be found. As Sun Tzu said in The Art of War - "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer". To not understand the Palestinian narrative - including the role given to Yasser Arafat - is to have a blindness that may inhibit knowing their thinking. Like religion, I can argue from my frame of reference until the cows come home, but unless I understand the listener's frame, I will never be able to comprehend and counter it.

Be aware of how an image leaves too much in the mind of the viewer to fill in the gaps. It may be worth a thousand words, (but the words may be a projection by the viewer in support of their own narrative.) Reading the response by the organizers of the event did much to alleviate my concerns. The point of the visit was not to aggrandize Arafat, but to gain understanding of the issues that inhibit peace, including the mindset of the Palestinian people with respect to the PLO and Arafat.

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 11:08 PM

Ain't it funny how the Palestinians never visit the graves of the Jews they kill, to get a more rounded perspective? Ain't it funny that only Jews do such a thing?

(26)
cee,
March 23, 2014 9:32 PM

what kind of itinerary is that

Why was Ramallah even visited to give the PA the authority to issue their all or nothing stance? Since when is Ramallah a Jewish city and it it ever was, a tour guide's mention of it passing by on the bus would suffice. There is no excuse for this and the raison d'etre of the trip which is to expose student to Jewish Israel and the connection of JEWS to Israel was severely undermined.

(25)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 9:26 PM

be more careful with donor funds

Though I don't wish them success, I do think that anti-Semites wanting to advance their agenda should organize and fund their own trips to pay homage to villains. The "balance" they seek to envenom into Jewish-sponsored educational programs is ahistorical, inhuman, and therefore a violation of the Jewish donors' values and purses.

It's obvious, at least to me, that Jewish donors and organizations have no obligation to underwrite "representatives of the Palestinian viewpoint to state their case fairly and freely". In fact, the notion that Jewish donors ought to pay for anti-Semitic indoctrination is so patently wrong that it's unsurprising to me that it's only advanced by those twisted enough to be anti-Semites.

(24)
George Kende Dr.,
March 23, 2014 8:13 PM

Stupido

It's clear, that the Harvard Hillel Foundation wasted many money unnecessarily for a terrorist "blessed" memory.

Why stop there? Take a tour of Hitler's bunker while your at it. "The "Dumbing down of America" continues.

(22)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 7:39 PM

visiting Arafat's grave

I would like to visit Arafat's grave with a bag of dog manure to sprinkle on it.

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 12:18 AM

Arafat grave visit not an endorsement

I visited Dachau, but was not honoring Hitler. In the context of the students' visit, I do not believe they were honoring Arafat. They were able to communicate directly with Palestinian leadership, and I can only hope that they took advantage of the opportunity to ask tough questions, to learn what we are up against, and represent part of America's Jewish community in a way that we would be proud of. I accept the explanation that the students were shown the grave and were merely documenting their visit. I don't think we need to over-react or assume the worst about the students. We all know Arafat was a terrorist, but that knowledge alone will not advance a lasting peace. Bottom line: The visit was not an endorsement of Arafat, though perhaps if the students were more politically astute they would have skipped the photo.

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 11:10 PM

You visits dead Jews are Dachau. I doubt you went their primarily to pay your respects to Hitler. Please remember that the appearance of an impropriety is an impropriety in itself.

(21)
Brahm Zuckerman,
March 23, 2014 7:27 PM

Arafat

If we would do like they do, the students would destroy that grave. But to go and visit the grave as if he was some great person is not what the students should be taught. I think that Arafat should have been cremated, and the ashes put out with the trash. There should not be any grave site for him. Is there a grave site for Hitler? I think not!

(20)
Aliza,
March 23, 2014 7:11 PM

Read the organizer's response

Based on the Times of Israel article, it sounds like the grave was just part of a visit to the Muqata in Ramallah. Reading some other interviews that have been done, it sounds like there is an implication that the Palestinians made it an "all or nothing" deal - visit everything or visit nothing.

So in that context, fine. Visit the grave. Taking a group picture was unacceptable and beyond being in poor taste. That the organizers allowed it is a shame, because it diminishes the entire effort of this venture, which in itself, sounds laudable.

(19)
Antony Gordon,
March 23, 2014 6:58 PM

From Antony (Chanan) Gordon - Harvard Law School (1990) - disgusted and disappointed but not entirely surprised...

As a graduate of the Harvard Law School (1990), I have sincere gratitude and nostalgic memories from my days as a graduate student who was privileged to experience the unique Cambridge Spring, access to a tremendous network of influential people from all walks of life, and learn from some of the most renowned academicians in the world. Having said that, sadly, like almost every institution of higher education in America, Harvard is not impervious to the twisted and intellectually dishonest premise which underscores the pseudo liberal ideologies which is ubiquitous on college campuses. In the self-righteous name of keeping an open mind and not judging others, my alma mater, the most famous University in America, has perhaps forgotten that an intuition without immutable principles will morph into an institution that stands for nothing and ergo, will eventually fall for anything. For any human being who claims to embrace basic principles axiomatic to being a decent person, such as dignity, morality and respect for human life to show any kind of respect to a cruel and merciless murderer is unconscionable. For such human beings to be apparently affiliated to the same nation as the main target of such a terrorist is very naive and epitomizes the fact that high intelligence clearly is no guarantee of common sense. I have no problem with people claiming to be open-minded, but when one is so open minded that one’s brains fall out, it is time for a reality check. The mantra of Harvard which is emboldened on many of my former files and Harvard paraphernalia is “VERITAS,” the Latin word for “TRUTH.” Clearly those members of the Harvard Hillel who would stoop as low as paying homage to a notorious terrorist were not seeking the TRUTH, but rather trying to appease a liberal philosophy which is the antithesis of TRUTH.

(18)
Beverly Kurtin,
March 23, 2014 6:58 PM

Only one thing

I just vomited.

(17)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 6:49 PM

Harvard Arafat

General Eisenhower made sure to photograph the death camps the German Nazis used to kill 6 million Jews, because he said he was sure in 10 or 20 years people would forget. There is no grave Hitler is buried and President Obama made sure ben Ladin was buried in a watery grave. Unfortunately Arafat's grave is a personal affront to be taken care of or cared for by Jewsish students. Or prestigious universities.

(16)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 6:49 PM

Consider this action as you support HIllel

I wrote this to Hillel Headquarters:I am appalled as a Jew and supporter of many Jewish causes. Hillel's, mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students. How does visiting a terrorist who murdered Jews enrich the life of any Jew?

I will keep Hillel's destructive actions in mind as I make my decisions of which Jewish causes to support.

(15)
Marsha in Englewood,
March 23, 2014 6:43 PM

Words fail...

...to express my revulsion at this. It only helps me justify not giving money to ANY Federation. My tzedaka dollars go SOLELY to organizations that build and support Israel in general, and communities in Yehuda and the Shomron in particular.

(14)
Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 6:03 PM

Glad I read rebuttal on this article

E reading the article on "honoring Arafat", I was incensed & ready to write my Boston friends & relatives to spread the word about this outrageous support. I AM THANKFUL & GRATEFUL that a link was included to read the other side of the experience. I ONLY HOPE MANY DID THE SAME. What was propagated as "anti-Israel" was, in fact, appropriately educational & pertinent to the success of this trek, in my opinion. It is vital that students from all nations & religions are exposed to truthful history. While Israel is far from perfect, there is no question as to the intolerance toward this tiny nation. These Harvard students are not stupid! They were exposed to both the Palestinian & Israeli sides of the issues & will, I believe, be educated and responsible thinking adult leaders in the future. Kudos to the organizers of this & more trips like this!

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 11:13 PM

You are kidding me, right??

This comment would be appropriate if and when Palestinian college students begin to visit the sites of the graves of the victims of Arafat.

(13)
David Levy,
March 23, 2014 6:01 PM

This whole thing turns my stomach.

This whole thing turns my stomach. Would they travel to the birthplace of Hitler, y'mach s'mo, and endeavor to understand the Nazi viewpoint in the name of "balance"? Are we Jews normal? Where do we get this self-destructive tendency from?

(12)
Paul,
March 23, 2014 5:57 PM

Doesn't deserve a grave

The man was an unfortunate player in history. Unfortunately, can't do worse than spit on the grave because of personal and public hygiene.

(11)
David Rose,
March 23, 2014 5:51 PM

Maybe I'm confused

I read the reply. Is Hillel an Israeli organization, or a Jewish organization?

In my opinion neither should do anything short of slitting on this man's memory. But I (used to, now) contribute to Hillel because it fostered a Jewish identity on campuses.

Just what brought about this sickness in American jewry? In Israel, perhaps 20% might have voted for Obama, in America 80%. Honoring Arafat, while they should spit on his grave. Even more important, how can this sickness be cured? It is far worse than cancer. A cancer only affects one individual, this sickness affects many.

(9)
Jack bender,
March 23, 2014 5:45 PM

Arafats visit

It is a disease....there is a gene defect amongst Jews that sees perfectly normal...almost all intellectuals into frenzy s when their enemy's appear...they roll over,squeak nicety s and join them against their own Jewish people...there is no cure..they are hopeless in their self absorbing hypocracy

(8)
Philip Kirschner,
March 23, 2014 5:43 PM

Understanding Your Enemy/Standing Fast

For the JEWISH state to survive you must understand the basic tenants of their faith. Islam has several sects. Most of which are at odds with each other. As a JEWISH nation how can we allow ourselves to be fooled.

(7)
Paul B.,
March 23, 2014 5:20 PM

Fade Away

The best thing that can be done is to not honor him by visiting his grave. He will be long forgotten over time and that is the way it should be. He did nothing to enhance our way of life or that of his people. He was corrupt and a terrorist. He and Bin Laden are where they belong. Political correctness has it's limits.

(6)
rae sharfman,
March 23, 2014 5:13 PM

your trip was worse than disgusting. HOW DOES PEACE COME WHILE THE INCITEMENT TO MURDER JEWS CONTINUES. HOW DOES PEACE COME WHEN THE ARABS REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE ISRAEL AS A JEWISH STATE.

READ THE CHARTER OF THE PA!!!

(5)
kief,
March 23, 2014 4:59 PM

WHY ARE THOSE JEWS JUST CRAZY DUMMIES?

I can't find right words to describe this most shameful act full of bloody stupidity from the kind of Jews who never should be called so, who did this Hitler in style act and still feel proud. Their terror-loving attitudes clearly demand hardest punishment this gang of stupid dummies deserve and should face soonest possible. What a shame. What a disgraceful Jew-hating anti- humanely act committed by those who most probably aren't Jews in their hearts or minds, but just a stupid bunch of disoriented terror-loving fatalists..This kind of Jews is and will be the major factor of Israel's final destruction, if they aren't kicked out from the land of Judah and Israel as soon as possible.

(4)
Uri Yitzchak,
March 23, 2014 3:07 PM

This just tells you of the crazy and twisted times we are living in; when common sense and decency are so hidden that we sponsor homage to criminals and murderers. These are signs that this world in general and our people in particular need Mashiach to come already.

Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 6:11 PM

Did you read the response to this article?.

If you read the Trek leaders response to this article, you would realize that truthful education is what's pertinent, not one sided judge mental accusations.

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 5:20 AM

no, you also take your emotions with you, not your intellect only and it is ok to be on the side of Israel as a Jew because you may badly need that country some day first of all. Secondly, other people have no problem defending their own terrorists and that includes the money greedy people at Havard as well as those with their high intellect, Jews or not. There is no justification to such a display as to stand around Arafat's grave, he killed children at school, and I am not going to say civlians, soldiers in Israel are also civilians.

(3)
Benjamin Silver,
March 23, 2014 2:26 PM

I am sorry to say there is a real sickness in our people, that never really goes away - it has been going on forever. Common sense and self-preservation are trumped by warped feelings of caring more about others - even those who vow to kill us. Now, these supposed intellectuals at Harvard have even figured out a way to sympathize with scum like Arafat. The insanity of Jewish "liberals" is mind boggling. They possess what Jabotinsky called "Jewish diabetes" - they turn everything into sweetness. How sad.

(2)
ezra sofair,
March 23, 2014 2:03 PM

yibanai hamikdash

may the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days

(1)
Alan S.,
March 23, 2014 11:24 AM

What an atrocity!

For some time I have read about the issues of the 'open' college Hillel's, as well as the issues presented by many Jewish college groups, such as Hillel, when they try to accommodate every opinion of diversity. The fact that they have gone insane is proven by going to pay their respects to the grave of the terrorist Arafat. This is equal to finding the grave of Hitler and paying their respects. Trust me, this is something that will surely happen in time.On occasion, I receive phone calls requesting donations from my children's college Hillel group. I always make a point of explaining nicely to the caller why I can not support the group. Churchill's quote rings true: "If you're not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you're not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”

Anonymous,
March 23, 2014 6:06 PM

Read the rebuttal to the article

One question....did you read the response from the organizers of this trek? If not, shame on you. If so, you're entitled to your opinion even though you're not aware of the facts!

Anonymous,
March 24, 2014 11:21 PM

Yes, in fact, I did...

I read about the entire visit from the trek organizers, and this fully affirmed to me the fact that they said nothing of any value. Listen, the insanity speaks for itself. When Palestinian college students start to visit the graves of the Jews that Arafat killed, than perhaps the trek organizers will have some validity.

I've been striving to get more into spirituality. But it seems that every time I make some progress, I find myself slipping right back to where I started. I'm getting discouraged and feel like a failure. Can you help?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Spiritual slumps are a natural part of spiritual growth. There is a cycle that people go through when at times they feel closer to God and at times more distant. In the words of the Kabbalists, it is "two steps forward and one step back." So although you feel you are slipping, know that this is a natural process. The main thing is to look at your overall progress (over months or years) and be able to see how far you've come!

This is actually God's ingenious way of motivating us further. The sages compare this to teaching a baby how to walk. When the parent is holding on, the baby shrieks with delight and is under the illusion that he knows how to walk. Yet suddenly, when the parent lets go, the child panics, wobbles and may even fall.

At such times when we feel spiritually "down," that is often because God is letting go, giving us the great gift of independence. In some ways, these are the times when we can actually grow the most. For if we can move ourselves just a little bit forward, we truly acquire a level of sanctity that is ours forever.

Here is a practical tool to help pull you out of the doldrums. The Sefer HaChinuch speaks about a great principle in spiritual growth: "The external awakens the internal." This means that although we may not experience immediate feelings of closeness to God, eventually, by continuing to conduct ourselves in such a manner, this physical behavior will have an impact on our spiritual selves and will help us succeed. (A similar idea is discussed by psychologists who say: "Smile and you will feel happy.")

That is the power of Torah commandments. Even if we may not feel like giving charity or praying at this particular moment, by having a "mitzvah" obligation to do so, we are in a framework to become inspired. At that point we can infuse that act of charity or prayer with all the meaning and lift it can provide. But if we'd wait until being inspired, we might be waiting a very long time.

May the Almighty bless you with the clarity to see your progress, and may you do so with joy.

In 1940, a boatload 1,600 Jewish immigrants fleeing Hitler's ovens was denied entry into the port of Haifa; the British deported them to the island of Mauritius. At the time, the British had acceded to Arab demands and restricted Jewish immigration into Palestine. The urgent plight of European Jewry generated an "illegal" immigration movement, but the British were vigilant in denying entry. Some ships, such as the Struma, sunk and their hundreds of passengers killed.

If you seize too much, you are left with nothing. If you take less, you may retain it (Rosh Hashanah 4b).

Sometimes our appetites are insatiable; more accurately, we act as though they were insatiable. The Midrash states that a person may never be satisfied. "If he has one hundred, he wants two hundred. If he gets two hundred, he wants four hundred" (Koheles Rabbah 1:34). How often have we seen people whose insatiable desire for material wealth resulted in their losing everything, much like the gambler whose constant urge to win results in total loss.

People's bodies are finite, and their actual needs are limited. The endless pursuit for more wealth than they can use is nothing more than an elusive belief that they can live forever (Psalms 49:10).

The one part of us which is indeed infinite is our neshamah (soul), which, being of Divine origin, can crave and achieve infinity and eternity, and such craving is characteristic of spiritual growth.

How strange that we tend to give the body much more than it can possibly handle, and the neshamah so much less than it needs!